Welcome to the Okonjima Nature Reserve!

Home of The AfriCat Foundation, the ideal Namibian luxury safari destination

The family-run Okonjima Lodge rests at the foot of the sandstone Omboroko Mountains amidst Acacia thornveld in a Malaria-free area. It is halfway between Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek, and the Etosha National Park – only a two-and-a-half-hour drive or a brief flight into the reserve’s private airstrip.

Okonjima Nature Reserve is equally famed for frequent cheetah and leopard sightings on its safaris, as well asThe AfriCat Foundation. Since being founded in 1991, AfriCat’s mission has been to make significant contributions to conservation, while trying to ensure the survival of Namibia’s predators in their natural habitat. It undertakes research, community support and environmental education projects, as well as conservation work to rehabilitate carnivores such as cheetah and hyaena.

Our activities delight and educate even the most experienced of travellers. Mornings begin early with tracking cheetahs on foot in the Okonjima Nature Reservealongside our experienced guides. In true African style, days end with game drives through the acacia thicket in search of elusive leopards followed by a sundowner. Whether you hike, bike or are an avid bird watcher, there are endless ways to spend your time at Okonjima.

Location & Maps

Okonjima is situated half-way between Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, and the Etosha National Park (a two and a half hour drive from either point), its central location making it ideally suited as a base from which to undertake excursions to other Namibian regions, or as the perfect break on the way to, or from, Etosha.

Activities

Our activities will delight, entertain, and educate even the most experienced traveler. Visit the AfriCat Foundation and learn about Namibia’s carnivores. Track cheetah, leopard, hyenas, and wild dogs. Hike, bike, or go for a swim. The activities are endless at Okonjima!

The Grand African Villa at Okonjima, re-imagined for 2018

The Villa at Okonjima was originally conceived as a fully-staffed private house, which included a private guide and vehicle for flexibility around activities.

Okonjima would like all agents and operators who have booked the Villa previously and private guests who have been fortunate enough to have occupied the Villa as their ‘home away from home’ to please take note that Okonjima has decided to change the booking status of the exclusive, African Villa| African House – to a small, luxury, boutique lodge…

Okonjima – Where tourism supports Conservation

Shortly after my arrival at Plains Camp on a hot midsummer’s noon I’m drifting in a cool, round pool with corrugated iron sides. A Stewarts & Lloyds windmill clinks hypnotically overhead, slowly grinding to a halt as the breeze subsides. One could be forgiven for thinking one is on an African farm, but of course that’s exactly what the Hanssen family wants you to experience…

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The AfriCat Foundation’s headquarters are based in the 200 square kilometre private Okonjima Nature Reserve, located 50 kilometres south of Otjiwarongo in central Namibia. The AfriCat Foundation was founded in the early 1990s and formally registered as a non-profit organisation in August 1993. The Foundation’s northern operation, AfriCat North, is based along Etosha National Park’s south-western boundary, and strives to mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflict on commercial farmland, especially with regards to the lion (panthera leo), by educating Namibia’s youth, encouraging adapted livestock management, and conducting essential research and monitoring of wild lion populations.

AfriCat has since grown significantly and what started out primarily as a welfare organisation has, over the years, identified the need to include a focus on education and research as being essential to accomplishing its mission - the long-term conservation of Namibia’s large carnivores.